Electronic devices with optical component protection

ABSTRACT

A head-mounted device may have a head-mounted housing. The head-mounted housing may have rear-facing displays that display images for a user. The images are viewable from eye boxes while the head-mounted device is being worn by the user. A publicly viewable front-facing display may be mounted on a front face of the head-mounted housing. A display cover layer may overlap a pixel array associated with the front-facing display. An inactive border area of the display cover layer may overlap optical components. Shutter systems may be provided between the display cover layer and the optical components to selectively block light. Actuators may move shutter members or other movable members to cover and uncover the optical components. A removable cover may be used to protect the display cover layer and may have portions in different areas that have different optical properties.

This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patentapplication No. 63/076,830, filed Sep. 10, 2020, which is herebyincorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

This relates generally to electronic devices, and, more particularly, toelectronic devices such as head-mounted devices.

BACKGROUND

Electronic devices such as head-mounted devices may have displays fordisplaying images. The displays may be housed in a head-mounted supportstructure.

SUMMARY

An electronic device such as a head-mounted device may include displaysfor displaying visual content for a user. A head-mounted supportstructure may be used to support rear-facing displays. The rear-facingdisplays may display left and right images that are viewable throughrespective left and right lenses from eye boxes located at the rear ofthe head-mounted support structure. A forward-facing (front-facing)display may be mounted on a front face of the head-mounted supportstructure and may face away from the rear-facing displays.

A display cover layer may overlap a pixel array associated with theforward-facing display. In an inactive border area of the forward-facingdisplay, the display cover layer may overlap optical components. Theoptical components may include visible and infrared cameras and otherdevices that sense and/or emit light.

Shutter systems may be provided between the display cover layer and theoptical components to selectively block light. Actuators may moveshutter members to cover and uncover the optical components. If desired,filters, ancillary lenses that change the lens powers of lensesassociated with cameras or other optical components and/or other opticalstructures may be moved into and out of place with actuators. Aremovable cover may be used to protect the display cover layer. Theremoveable cover may be formed from a polymer layer or other cover layerhaving portions in different areas that have different opticalproperties. The removable cover may, for example, have a clear area thatcovers the active area of the forward-facing display and may have avisible-light-blocking-and-infrared-light-transmitting portion thatcovers the optical components under the border of the display coverlayer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of an illustrative electronic device such as ahead-mounted device in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is schematic diagram of an illustrative system with an electronicdevice in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a front view of a portion of an electronic device inaccordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a portion of an electronic device with anoptical component shutter in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a front view of an illustrative optical component andassociated shutter in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a top view of an illustrative electronic device with aremovable cover in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a top view of an illustrative electronic device with a coverthat may be deployed by unrolling the cover in accordance with anembodiment.

FIG. 8 is a front view of an illustrative electronic device with aremovable cover attached over a display cover layer of a forward-facingdisplay in accordance with an embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Head-mounted devices include head-mounted support structures that allowthe devices to be worn on the heads of users. Displays may be used forpresenting a user with visual content. A head-mounted device may haverear-facing displays that display images to the user while thehead-mounted device is being worn. The head-mounted device may also havea publicly viewable front-facing display. Optical components such asvisible and infrared cameras may be used to gather information about theenvironment surrounding the head-mounted device. These opticalcomponents may include two-dimensional cameras that capturetwo-dimensional images and three-dimensional cameras that capturethree-dimensional images. In some configurations, the optical componentsmay include light-emitting diodes or other light sources that are usedto provide illumination for objects in the environment surrounding ahead-mounted device and/or the optical components may include otherlight sensors (e.g., ambient light sensors, optical proximity sensors,etc.).

To help prevent damage to components in a head-mounted device, thehead-mounted device may be provided with protection structures such as aremovable cover, optical component shutters, and/or other structuresthat can be used to cover and protect device components. As an example,a publicly viewable front-facing display may be provided with aremovable cover. As another example, optical components such as camerasand light sources may be provided with shutters.

FIG. 1 is a side view of an illustrative head-mounted electronic device.As shown in FIG. 1 , head-mounted device 10 may include head-mountedsupport structure 26. Support structure 26, which may sometimes bereferred to as a housing or enclosure, may have walls or otherstructures that separate an interior region of device 10 such asinterior region 42 from an exterior region surrounding device 10 such asexterior region 44. Electrical components 30 (e.g., integrated circuits,sensors, control circuitry, input-output devices, etc.) may be mountedon printed circuits and/or other structures within device 10 (e.g., ininterior region 42).

To present a user with images for viewing from eye boxes such as eye box34, device 10 may include displays such as display 14 and lenses such aslens 38. These components may be mounted in optical modules such asoptical module 36 (e.g., a lens barrel) to form respective left andright optical systems. There may be, for example, a left display forpresenting an image through a left lens to a user's left eye in a lefteye box and a right display for presenting an image to a user's righteye in a right eye box. The user's eyes are located in eye boxes 34 whenrear face R of structure 26 rests against the outer surface of theuser's face.

Support structure 26 may include a main housing support structure suchas portion 26M. Main housing portion 26M may have a portion on frontface F of device 10. A forward-facing publicly viewable display such asdisplay 52 may be mounted on front face F of portion 26M. Display 52 mayface away from rear-facing displays 14. Display 52 may lie generally inthe X-Z plane of FIG. 1 . If desired display 52 may have a curvedcross-sectional profile. For example, display 52 and front face F ofdevice 10 may curve slightly about the Z axis of FIG. 1 to accommodatethe curved shape of the user's face. If desired, support structure 26may include optional head straps (sometimes referred to as headbands)such as strap 26B and/or other head-mounted support structures that areconfigured to extend around the head of the user to help support device10 on the head of the user during use.

A schematic diagram of an illustrative system that may include ahead-mounted device is shown in FIG. 2 . As shown in FIG. 2 , system 8may have one or more electronic devices such as device 10. Theelectronic devices in system 8 may include a head-mounted device (e.g.,device 10 of FIG. 1 ), accessories such as headphones, associatedcomputing equipment (e.g., a cellular telephone, tablet computer, laptopcomputer, desktop computer, and/or remote computing equipment thatsupplies content to a head-mounted device), and/or other devices thatcommunicate with the head-mounted device.

Each electronic device if system 8 may have control circuitry 12.Control circuitry 12 may include storage and processing circuitry forcontrolling the operation of the electronic device. Circuitry 12 mayinclude storage such as hard disk drive storage, nonvolatile memory(e.g., electrically-programmable-read-only memory configured to form asolid-state drive), volatile memory (e.g., static or dynamicrandom-access-memory), etc. Processing circuitry in control circuitry 12may be based on one or more microprocessors, microcontrollers, digitalsignal processors, baseband processors, power management units, audiochips, graphics processing units, application specific integratedcircuits, and other integrated circuits. Software code may be stored onstorage in circuitry 12 and run on processing circuitry in circuitry 12to implement control operations for the electronic device (e.g., datagathering operations, operations involving the adjustment of thecomponents of the device using control signals, etc.). Control circuitry12 may include wired and wireless communications circuitry. For example,control circuitry 12 may include radio-frequency transceiver circuitrysuch as cellular telephone transceiver circuitry, wireless local areanetwork transceiver circuitry (e.g., WiFi® circuitry), millimeter wavetransceiver circuitry, and/or other wireless communications circuitry.

To support interactions with external equipment, control circuitry 12may be used in implementing communications protocols. Communicationsprotocols that may be implemented using control circuitry 12 includeinternet protocols, wireless local area network protocols (e.g., IEEE802.11 protocols—sometimes referred to as Wi-Fi®), protocols for othershort-range wireless communications links such as the Bluetooth®protocol or other wireless personal area network (WPAN) protocols, IEEE802.11ad protocols, cellular telephone protocols, multiple-input andmultiple-output (MIMO) protocols, antenna diversity protocols, satellitenavigation system protocols such as global positioning system (GPS)protocols and global navigation satellite system (GLONASS) protocols,IEEE 802.15.4 ultra-wideband communications protocols or otherultra-wideband communications protocols, etc. Each communicationsprotocol may be associated with a corresponding radio access technology(RAT) that specifies the physical connection methodology used inimplementing the protocol.

During operation, the communications circuitry of each electronic devicein system 8 (e.g., the communications circuitry of control circuitry 12)may be used to support communication between the electronic devices. Forexample, one electronic device may transmit video data, audio data,and/or other data to another electronic device in system 8. Electronicdevices in system 8 may use wired and/or wireless communicationscircuitry to communicate through one or more communications networks(e.g., the internet, local area networks, etc.). The communicationscircuitry may be used to allow data to be received by an electronicdevice from external equipment (e.g., a tethered computer, a portabledevice such as a handheld device or laptop computer, online computingequipment such as a remote server or other remote computing equipment,or other electrical equipment) and/or to provide data to externalequipment.

Each electronic device in system 8 may include input-output devices 22.Input-output devices 22 may be used to allow a user to provide device 10with user input. Input-output devices 22 may also be used to gatherinformation on the environment in which device in system 8 is operating.Output components in devices 22 may allow an electronic device in system8 to provide a user with output and may be used to communicate withexternal electrical equipment.

As shown in FIG. 2 , input-output devices 22 may include one or moredisplays such as displays 14. In some configurations, an electronicdevice in system 8 such as device 10 includes left and right displaydevices. Device 10 may, for example, include left and right componentssuch as left and right scanning mirror display devices or other imageprojectors, liquid-crystal-on-silicon display devices, digital mirrordevices, or other reflective display devices, left and right displaypanels based on light-emitting diode pixel arrays (e.g., organiclight-emitting display panels or display devices based on pixel arraysformed from crystalline semiconductor light-emitting diode dies), liquidcrystal display panels, and/or or other left and right display devicesthat provide images to left and right eye boxes for viewing by theuser's left and right eyes, respectively.

During operation, displays 14 may be used to display visual content fora user of device 10. The content that is presented on displays 14 mayinclude virtual objects and other content that is provided to displays14 by control circuitry 12. This virtual content may sometimes bereferred to as computer-generated content. Computer-generated contentmay be displayed in the absence of real-world content or may be combinedwith real-world content. In some configurations, a real-world image maybe captured by a camera (e.g., a forward-facing camera, sometimesreferred to as a front-facing camera) so that computer-generated contentmay be electronically overlaid on portions of the real-world image(e.g., when device 10 is a pair of virtual reality goggles).

Input-output circuitry 22 may include sensors 16. Sensors 16 mayinclude, for example, three-dimensional sensors (e.g., three-dimensionalimage sensors such as structured light sensors that emit beams of lightand that use two-dimensional digital image sensors to gather image datafor three-dimensional images from light spots that are produced when atarget is illuminated by the beams of light, binocular three-dimensionalimage sensors that gather three-dimensional images using two or morecameras in a binocular imaging arrangement, three-dimensional lightdetection and ranging sensors, sometimes referred to as lidar sensors,three-dimensional radio-frequency sensors, or other sensors that gatherthree-dimensional image data), cameras (e.g., infrared and/or visibledigital image sensors), gaze tracking sensors (e.g., a gaze trackingsystem based on an image sensor and, if desired, a light source thatemits one or more beams of light that are tracked using the image sensorafter reflecting from a user's eyes), touch sensors, capacitiveproximity sensors, light-based (optical) proximity sensors, otherproximity sensors, force sensors (e.g., strain gauges, capacitive forcesensors, resistive force sensors, etc.), sensors such as contact sensorsbased on switches, gas sensors, pressure sensors, moisture sensors,magnetic sensors, audio sensors (microphones), ambient light sensors,microphones for gathering voice commands and other audio input, sensorsthat are configured to gather information on motion, position, and/ororientation (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses, and/orinertial measurement units that include all of these sensors or a subsetof one or two of these sensors), and/or other sensors.

User input and other information may be gathered using sensors and otherinput devices in input-output devices 22. If desired, input-outputdevices 22 may include other devices 24 such as haptic output devices(e.g., vibrating components), light-emitting diodes and other lightsources (e.g., infrared light-emitting diodes and/or visiblelight-emitting diodes), speakers such as ear speakers for producingaudio output, circuits for receiving wireless power, circuits fortransmitting power wirelessly to other devices, batteries and otherenergy storage devices (e.g., capacitors), joysticks, buttons, and/orother components.

Electronic device 10 may have head-mounted support structures such ashead-mounted support structure 26 (e.g., head-mounted housing structuressuch as housing walls, straps, etc.). The head-mounted support structuremay be configured to be worn on a head of a user (e.g., against theuser's face covering the user's eyes) during operation of device 10 andmay support displays 14, sensors 16, other components 24, otherinput-output devices 22, and control circuitry 12 (see, e.g., components30 and optical module 36 of FIG. 1 ).

FIG. 3 is a front view of device 10 in an illustrative configuration inwhich device 10 has a front-facing display. As shown in FIG. 3 , display52 may have an active area AA that contains an array of pixels (e.g., adisplay panel such as an organic light-emitting diode display panel orliquid crystal display panel) configured to display images. These imagesmay be viewed by people in the vicinity of the user of device 10 whenthe user of device 10 is wearing and operating device 10 on the user'shead. An image displayed in active area AA of display 52 may also beviewed by the user of device 10 when device 10 has been removed from theuser's head. If desired, display 52 may be a touch sensitive display(e.g., display 52 may be covered with a two-dimensional touch sensor).Display 52 may have a rectangular shape, a rectangular shape withrounded corners, a shape with a bend to accommodate a user's nose (see,e.g., the curved shape of the edge of display 52 at nose bridge portionNB, which corresponds to a curved nose-bridge portion of supportstructure 26 that is configured to rest on a user's nose), or may haveother suitable shapes.

Some or all of the peripheral edge of display 52 may be free of pixels.For example, display 52 may be surrounded by an inactive border such asinactive area IA of FIG. 3 . Inactive border areas such as inactive areaIA may be provided with opaque masking structures that help hideinternal components from view. If desired, one or more window openingsmay be formed in the opaque masking structures to accommodate opticalcomponents 60 that are aligned with the windows. Optical components 60may include two-dimensional cameras and/or three-dimensional camerassuch as structured light three-dimensional cameras and may operate atvisible and/or infrared wavelengths. Cameras may serve to capturevisible light images (e.g., one or more forward-facing visible lightcameras may capture images that can be merged with computer-generatedcontent on displays 14). Cameras can also form parts of visual inertialodometry systems, may be used to detect the three-dimensional shapes ofobjects in the user's environment for use with mixed realityapplications, and/or may otherwise be used in capturing images of theuser's surroundings. Optical components 60 may include light sourcesoperating at visible and/or infrared wavelengths. The light sources maybe formed from light-emitting diodes, lasers, and/or otherlight-emitting devices. If desired, optical components 60 may includesensors 16 that emit and/or detect light such as proximity sensors,ambient light sensors, etc.).

To protect the circuitry of display 52, display 52 may have a protectivedisplay cover layer formed from transparent glass, polymer, crystallinematerial such as sapphire, other transparent material, and/orcombinations of these materials. The display cover layer may coveractive area AA and inactive area IA. In inactive area IA, the underside(inner surface) of the display cover layer may be coated with a layer ofblack ink and/or other materials that form an opaque masking layer. Thisopaque masking structure may cover and hide printed circuits, supportstructures, component packages, and/or other internal device structuresfrom view.

Circular openings and/or openings of other shapes may be formed in theblack ink layer or other opaque masking layer formed on the innersurface of the display cover layer to form windows for respectiveoptical components 60. There may be any suitable number of opticalcomponents 60 mounted under inactive area IA in alignment withcorresponding opaque masking layer window openings (e.g., at least one,at least two, at least three, at least five, at least six, at least ten,fewer than 12, fewer than eight, etc.). Components 60 may be formed atthe lower edge of display 52, along the left and/or right verticallyextending side edges of display 52, on the upper edge of display 52,and/or at two or more of these locations.

To facilitate attachment of a protective cover for display 52, display52 may be provided with attachment structures 62. Structures 62 mayinclude magnets, mechanical attachments structures such as clips orsnaps that are configured to engage with mating engagement features in aremovable cover, may include hook and loop fasteners, may includestructures configured to make press fit connections, may includeadhesive, may include threaded structures such as threaded fasteners(e.g., screws and/or other fasteners), and/or may include otherstructures for removably attaching the protective cover over some or allof display 52 (e.g., over some or all of active area AA and/or some orall of inactive area IA). Structures 62 may be located under the opaquemasking layer that is formed along the border of display 52 in inactivearea IA and/or may be mounted in other portions of device 10 (e.g.,under active area AA, on sidewall portions of support structure 26,etc.).

It may be desirable to block external light from reaching opticalcomponents 60. For example, it may be desirable to block external lightto help prevent any possible risk of light-induced component damage dueto excessive sun exposure and/or to help block components 60 from viewfrom the exterior of device 10 when not in use. Electrically adjustableshutters (e.g., liquid crystal shutters) and/or mechanically adjustableshutters (which are sometimes described herein as an example) may beused to selectively cover components 60. The shutters may be controlledby control circuitry 12 (e.g., based on the operating mode of device 10such as whether components 60 are active or inactive, based on whetherdevice 10 is powered on or is off or in a low-power sleep mode, based onwhether a user has supplied a shutter closing command via input-outputdevices 22, and/or based on satisfaction of other suitable shutteradjustment criteria).

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional side view of an illustrative electronicdevice of the type that may be provided with one or more opticalcomponent shutters. As shown in FIG. 4 , display 52 may have a displaypanel such as display panel 52P with an array of pixels P. Display panel52P may be used in displaying images in active area AA of display 52 onfront face F of device 10.

Display 52 may have a display cover layer such as display cover layer64. Display cover layer 64 may cover active area AA and inactive area IAof display 52. To hide device structures in interior region 42 from viewfrom exterior region 44, opaque masking layer 68 may be formed on theinner surface of display cover layer 64 in inactive area IA. Adhesive 70or other attachment structures may be used in attaching interior opticalcomponent support structure 66 to the inner surface of display coverlayer 64 (e.g., adhesive 70 may be interposed between layer 68 andopposing surfaces of structure 66). Structure 66, which may sometimes bereferred to as a shroud, may be formed from black polymer or othersuitable materials. Openings may be formed in structure 66 to receiveoptical components 60. For example, structure 66 may have an openingthat receives optical component 60C.

Component 60C in the example of FIG. 4 is a camera having a digitalimage sensor 72 and corresponding lens 74 mounted in a camera housingsuch as camera package 76. Other optical components may also be mountedin openings in structure 66, if desired.

The opening in structure 66 that receives camera 60C (or other opticalcomponent 60) may be selectively covered or uncovered by a shutter. Asshown in FIG. 4 , shutter system 78 may be located in air gap 86 betweenthe inner surface of display cover layer 64 and an optical componentsuch as camera 60C.

In the illustrative arrangement of FIG. 4 , shutter system 78 includesmovable shutter member 86. Shutter system 78 may also have an actuatorsuch as actuator 80. Actuator 80 may be an electromagnetic device (e.g.,a solenoid, motor, etc.) and/or other electrically adjustablepositioning system. Actuator 80 may be electrically controlled bycontrol signals from control circuitry 12. When it is desired to openthe shutter system, actuator 80 may move shutter member 86 away from theopening in support structure 66. In the open shutter state, opticalcomponents can operate. For example, camera 60C may capture imagesthrough the aligned window opening in opaque masking layer 68 while theshutter is open. When it is desired to close the shutter system to coverthe opening in structure 66 and camera 60C, actuator 80 may be used tomove shutter member 86 in direction 84 into closed shutter position 82′.To block light, shutter member 82 may be formed from one or more opaquematerials (e.g., opaque polymer, metal, etc.).

If desired, a movable member such as member 82 may be provided with anopening that is filled with an optical component such as optionaloptical component 86. In this type of arrangement, component 86 may notserve as a shutter but rather may serve as a supplemental opticalcomponent that can be selectively switched into place to adjust theperformance of the aligned optical component supported by structure 66(e.g., camera 60C or other optical component 60). Component 86 may be,for example, an optical filter such as a band-stop filter, infrared cutfilter, a visible-light-blocking-and-infrared-light-transmitting filter,a bandpass filter, a colored filter (e.g., a red filter or blue filter),or other spectral filter. Filters may be formed from thin-filminterference filter structures (e.g., dielectric tacks with layers ofalternating high and low refractive indices) and/or may be formed fromdyes and/or pigments. In some configurations, component 86 may be asupplemental lens (e.g. a lens element that converts lens 74 into atelephoto lens or a wide angle lens by operating in conjunction withlens 74 and thereby adjusting the lens power of camera 60C).Arrangements in which optional component 86 includes other opticalstructures (polarizer layers, diffuser layers, other optical films,combinations of any two or more of these components, etc.) may also beused. If desired, both an adjustable shutter system and a system with acomponent such as component 86 on a movable member that can beselectively moved into or out of alignment with an optical component 60may be used in device 10 (e.g., both of these systems may be mounted infront of the optical component in series). Systems such as these mayalso be included in removable covers.

The actuator of shutter system 78 may move one or more shutter memberssuch as member 82 by sliding member 82 laterally parallel to front faceF, by rotating member 82 into and out of place, by flipping member 82about an axis that lies in the plane of front face F, and/or byotherwise moving member 82 to cover and uncover an associated opticalcomponent such as camera 60C. As shown in FIG. 5 , the shutter(s) ofdevice 10 may have multiple moving members (e.g., shutter members 82Aand 82B may be moved into closed positions 82A′ and 82B′ to close theshutter or may be retracted to the positions shown in FIG. 5 to open theshutter). A single actuator that is coupled to both sliding members ormultiple actuators may be used in opening and closing the shutter ofFIG. 5 . If desired, shutter systems may be based on leaf shuttershaving a circular shape with synchronized set of blades (leaves) thatare operated by a corresponding actuator. The examples of FIGS. 4 and 5are illustrative.

If desired, device 10 may be provided with a removable cover. As shownin the top view of device 10 of FIG. 6 , for example, display 52 may beprovided with a removable cover such as cover 90. Cover 90 may have asize and shape that is configure to cover some or all of display coverlayer 64 of display 52. In some configurations, display cover layer 64may have an outer surface with a curved cross-sectional profile (see,e.g., display 52 of FIG. 6 ). Cover 90 may be provided with an innersurface and/or an overall shape that has a mating curved cross-sectionalprofile.

Cover 90 may be formed from a cover layer containing rigid and/orflexible materials. As an example, cover 90 may be formed from a layerof rigid polymer and/or may be formed from a layer of an elastomericpolymer such as silicone. Fabric and other materials may also be used informing part of a cover layer for cover 90. In some configurations,cover 90 may be provided with magnets 92 or other attachment structuresthat are attracted to corresponding attachment structurers 62 (e.g.,magnets) in device 10 to hold cover 90 over display cover layer 64 anddisplay 52. If desired, the outer surface of display cover layer 64 andthe inner surface of cover 90 may have one or more areas with compoundcurvature. Cover 90 may be deployed from within a carrying case (see,e.g., optional enclosure 94) or may be placed on the surface of display52 while device 10 is not within a carrying case.

If desired, cover 90 may be partly or fully stored within device 10 whennot in use. This type of arrangement is shown in FIG. 7 . As shown inthe example of FIG. 7 , cover 90 may be stored within interior region 42of device 10 (e.g., in the interior of support structure 26) on a rollsuch as roll 96 when not in use. When it is desired to cover and protectthe surface of display 52, cover 90 may be pulled across front face F ofdevice 10 in direction 98, thereby covering display 52. A springmechanism may be used to retract cover 90 onto roll 96 when it isdesired to uncover display 52.

Cover 90 may have multiple portions each of which has a potentiallydifferent configuration (e.g., different materials, different structuralsizes and shapes, different optical properties such as different amountsof light transmission, reflection, absorption, haze, color, etc.).Consider, as an example, cover 90 of FIG. 8 . As shown in FIG. 8 , cover90 may have first portion 90A and a second portion 90B. Portion 90A mayhave an elongated strip shape that runs along the lower edge of cover 90and that optionally extends around the entire periphery of cover 90.Portion 90A may, as an example, overlap inactive area IA and the opticalcomponents in inactive area IA (e.g., optical components 60 of FIG. 8 ).Portion 90B covers active area AA (and optionally other portions ofdisplay 52). The optical properties and/or other properties of portions90A and 90B may be different.

In one illustrative example, portion 90A may be formed from avisible-light-blocking layer that is transparent to infrared light orthat is opaque to infrared light, whereas portion 90B may be formed froma layer that is transparent to visible light (and transparent or opaqueto infrared light). With this type of illustrative arrangement, theimage displayed in the active area of display 52 will be visible throughportion 90B, whereas the visible light blocking characteristics ofportion 90A will hide components 60 from view. If desired, one or moreof components 60 may be provided with shutter system such as shuttersystem 78 (e.g., a system with a movable shutter member such as member82 and an actuator such as actuator 80). Shutter systems 78 may beformed in device 10 and/or may be formed in cover 90 (e.g., system 78may be embedded within the polymer layer or other cover layer for cover90). In scenarios in which portion 90A is transparent to infrared light,infrared cameras, infrared light-emitting didoes that provideillumination, and/or other infrared optical components 60 may be used(e.g., infrared light associated with the operation of these componentsmay pass through portion 90A).

In another illustrative example, portion 90B is opaque, which preventsvisible light from reaching the pixels P of display panel 52P andthereby helps protect display 52 from ambient light damage. Light frompixels P is also prevented from passing through portion 90B. Portion 90Ain this type of configuration may be opaque at visible and/or infraredwavelengths (e.g., to protect components 60).

In arrangements in which visible light blocking material is provided inportion 90A, the visible light cameras of device 10 are blocked and thepresence of the opaque material in portion 90A may be used to alertpeople in the vicinity of device 10 that the cameras are blocked. Logos,patterns, user-customized artwork, and/or other information may beincluded in cover 90, if desired. In arrangements in which an actuatorand moving member are provided in cover 90, this system may be used toswitch filters, ancillary lenses, and/or other optical components intoand/or out of use in addition to or instead of being used to moveshutter members into and out of alignment with overlapped opticalcomponents. A user may attach this type of cover 90 to device 10 toprovide components 60 of device 10 with additional selectable opticalcapabilities (e.g., additional selectable lens elements, filtering,etc.).

As described above, one aspect of the present technology is thegathering and use of information such as information from input-outputdevices. The present disclosure contemplates that in some instances,data may be gathered that includes personal information data thatuniquely identifies or can be used to contact or locate a specificperson. Such personal information data can include demographic data,location-based data, telephone numbers, email addresses, twitter ID's,home addresses, data or records relating to a user's health or level offitness (e.g., vital signs measurements, medication information,exercise information), date of birth, username, password, biometricinformation, or any other identifying or personal information.

The present disclosure recognizes that the use of such personalinformation, in the present technology, can be used to the benefit ofusers. For example, the personal information data can be used to delivertargeted content that is of greater interest to the user. Accordingly,use of such personal information data enables users to have control ofthe delivered content. Further, other uses for personal information datathat benefit the user are also contemplated by the present disclosure.For instance, health and fitness data may be used to provide insightsinto a user's general wellness, or may be used as positive feedback toindividuals using technology to pursue wellness goals.

The present disclosure contemplates that the entities responsible forthe collection, analysis, disclosure, transfer, storage, or other use ofsuch personal information data will comply with well-established privacypolicies and/or privacy practices. In particular, such entities shouldimplement and consistently use privacy policies and practices that aregenerally recognized as meeting or exceeding industry or governmentalrequirements for maintaining personal information data private andsecure. Such policies should be easily accessible by users, and shouldbe updated as the collection and/or use of data changes. Personalinformation from users should be collected for legitimate and reasonableuses of the entity and not shared or sold outside of those legitimateuses. Further, such collection/sharing should occur after receiving theinformed consent of the users. Additionally, such entities shouldconsider taking any needed steps for safeguarding and securing access tosuch personal information data and ensuring that others with access tothe personal information data adhere to their privacy policies andprocedures. Further, such entities can subject themselves to evaluationby third parties to certify their adherence to widely accepted privacypolicies and practices. In addition, policies and practices should beadapted for the particular types of personal information data beingcollected and/or accessed and adapted to applicable laws and standards,including jurisdiction-specific considerations. For instance, in theUnited States, collection of or access to certain health data may begoverned by federal and/or state laws, such as the Health InsurancePortability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), whereas health data in othercountries may be subject to other regulations and policies and should behandled accordingly. Hence different privacy practices should bemaintained for different personal data types in each country.

Despite the foregoing, the present disclosure also contemplatesembodiments in which users selectively block the use of, or access to,personal information data. That is, the present disclosure contemplatesthat hardware and/or software elements can be provided to prevent orblock access to such personal information data. For example, the presenttechnology can be configured to allow users to select to “opt in” or“opt out” of participation in the collection of personal informationdata during registration for services or anytime thereafter. In anotherexample, users can select not to provide certain types of user data. Inyet another example, users can select to limit the length of timeuser-specific data is maintained. In addition to providing “opt in” and“opt out” options, the present disclosure contemplates providingnotifications relating to the access or use of personal information. Forinstance, a user may be notified upon downloading an application (“app”)that their personal information data will be accessed and then remindedagain just before personal information data is accessed by the app.

Moreover, it is the intent of the present disclosure that personalinformation data should be managed and handled in a way to minimizerisks of unintentional or unauthorized access or use. Risk can beminimized by limiting the collection of data and deleting data once itis no longer needed. In addition, and when applicable, including incertain health related applications, data de-identification can be usedto protect a user's privacy. De-identification may be facilitated, whenappropriate, by removing specific identifiers (e.g., date of birth,etc.), controlling the amount or specificity of data stored (e.g.,collecting location data at a city level rather than at an addresslevel), controlling how data is stored (e.g., aggregating data acrossusers), and/or other methods.

Therefore, although the present disclosure broadly covers use ofinformation that may include personal information data to implement oneor more various disclosed embodiments, the present disclosure alsocontemplates that the various embodiments can also be implementedwithout the need for accessing personal information data. That is, thevarious embodiments of the present technology are not renderedinoperable due to the lack of all or a portion of such personalinformation data.

Physical environment: A physical environment refers to a physical worldthat people can sense and/or interact with without aid of electronicsystems. Physical environments, such as a physical park, includephysical articles, such as physical trees, physical buildings, andphysical people. People can directly sense and/or interact with thephysical environment, such as through sight, touch, hearing, taste, andsmell.

Computer-generated reality: in contrast, a computer-generated reality(CGR) environment refers to a wholly or partially simulated environmentthat people sense and/or interact with via an electronic system. In CGR,a subset of a person's physical motions, or representations thereof, aretracked, and, in response, one or more characteristics of one or morevirtual objects simulated in the CGR environment are adjusted in amanner that comports with at least one law of physics. For example, aCGR system may detect a person's head turning and, in response, adjustgraphical content and an acoustic field presented to the person in amanner similar to how such views and sounds would change in a physicalenvironment. In some situations (e.g., for accessibility reasons),adjustments to characteristic(s) of virtual object(s) in a CGRenvironment may be made in response to representations of physicalmotions (e.g., vocal commands). A person may sense and/or interact witha CGR object using any one of their senses, including sight, sound,touch, taste, and smell. For example, a person may sense and/or interactwith audio objects that create 3D or spatial audio environment thatprovides the perception of point audio sources in 3D space. In anotherexample, audio objects may enable audio transparency, which selectivelyincorporates ambient sounds from the physical environment with orwithout computer-generated audio. In some CGR environments, a person maysense and/or interact only with audio objects. Examples of CGR includevirtual reality and mixed reality.

Virtual reality: A virtual reality (VR) environment refers to asimulated environment that is designed to be based entirely oncomputer-generated sensory inputs for one or more senses. A VRenvironment comprises a plurality of virtual objects with which a personmay sense and/or interact. For example, computer-generated imagery oftrees, buildings, and avatars representing people are examples ofvirtual objects. A person may sense and/or interact with virtual objectsin the VR environment through a simulation of the person's presencewithin the computer-generated environment, and/or through a simulationof a subset of the person's physical movements within thecomputer-generated environment.

Mixed reality: In contrast to a VR environment, which is designed to bebased entirely on computer-generated sensory inputs, a mixed reality(MR) environment refers to a simulated environment that is designed toincorporate sensory inputs from the physical environment, or arepresentation thereof, in addition to including computer-generatedsensory inputs (e.g., virtual objects). On a virtuality continuum, amixed reality environment is anywhere between, but not including, awholly physical environment at one end and virtual reality environmentat the other end. In some MR environments, computer-generated sensoryinputs may respond to changes in sensory inputs from the physicalenvironment. Also, some electronic systems for presenting an MRenvironment may track location and/or orientation with respect to thephysical environment to enable virtual objects to interact with realobjects (that is, physical articles from the physical environment orrepresentations thereof). For example, a system may account formovements so that a virtual tree appears stationery with respect to thephysical ground. Examples of mixed realities include augmented realityand augmented virtuality. Augmented reality: an augmented reality (AR)environment refers to a simulated environment in which one or morevirtual objects are superimposed over a physical environment, or arepresentation thereof. For example, an electronic system for presentingan AR environment may have a transparent or translucent display throughwhich a person may directly view the physical environment. The systemmay be configured to present virtual objects on the transparent ortranslucent display, so that a person, using the system, perceives thevirtual objects superimposed over the physical environment.Alternatively, a system may have an opaque display and one or moreimaging sensors that capture images or video of the physicalenvironment, which are representations of the physical environment. Thesystem composites the images or video with virtual objects, and presentsthe composition on the opaque display. A person, using the system,indirectly views the physical environment by way of the images or videoof the physical environment, and perceives the virtual objectssuperimposed over the physical environment. As used herein, a video ofthe physical environment shown on an opaque display is called“pass-through video,” meaning a system uses one or more image sensor(s)to capture images of the physical environment, and uses those images inpresenting the AR environment on the opaque display. Furtheralternatively, a system may have a projection system that projectsvirtual objects into the physical environment, for example, as ahologram or on a physical surface, so that a person, using the system,perceives the virtual objects superimposed over the physicalenvironment. An augmented reality environment also refers to a simulatedenvironment in which a representation of a physical environment istransformed by computer-generated sensory information. For example, inproviding pass-through video, a system may transform one or more sensorimages to impose a select perspective (e.g., viewpoint) different thanthe perspective captured by the imaging sensors. As another example, arepresentation of a physical environment may be transformed bygraphically modifying (e.g., enlarging) portions thereof, such that themodified portion may be representative but not photorealistic versionsof the originally captured images. As a further example, arepresentation of a physical environment may be transformed bygraphically eliminating or obfuscating portions thereof. Augmentedvirtuality: an augmented virtuality (AV) environment refers to asimulated environment in which a virtual or computer generatedenvironment incorporates one or more sensory inputs from the physicalenvironment. The sensory inputs may be representations of one or morecharacteristics of the physical environment. For example, an AV park mayhave virtual trees and virtual buildings, but people with facesphotorealistically reproduced from images taken of physical people. Asanother example, a virtual object may adopt a shape or color of aphysical article imaged by one or more imaging sensors. As a furtherexample, a virtual object may adopt shadows consistent with the positionof the sun in the physical environment.

Hardware: there are many different types of electronic systems thatenable a person to sense and/or interact with various CGR environments.Examples include head mounted systems, projection-based systems,heads-up displays (HUDs), vehicle windshields having integrated displaycapability, windows having integrated display capability, displaysformed as lenses designed to be placed on a person's eyes (e.g., similarto contact lenses), headphones/earphones, speaker arrays, input systems(e.g., wearable or handheld controllers with or without hapticfeedback), smartphones, tablets, and desktop/laptop computers. A headmounted system may have one or more speaker(s) and an integrated opaquedisplay. Alternatively, a head mounted system may be configured toaccept an external opaque display (e.g., a smartphone). The head mountedsystem may incorporate one or more imaging sensors to capture images orvideo of the physical environment, and/or one or more microphones tocapture audio of the physical environment. Rather than an opaquedisplay, a head mounted system may have a transparent or translucentdisplay. The transparent or translucent display may have a mediumthrough which light representative of images is directed to a person'seyes. The display may utilize digital light projection, OLEDs, LEDs,μLEDs, liquid crystal on silicon, laser scanning light sources, or anycombination of these technologies. The medium may be an opticalwaveguide, a hologram medium, an optical combiner, an optical reflector,or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the transparent ortranslucent display may be configured to become opaque selectively.Projection-based systems may employ retinal projection technology thatprojects graphical images onto a person's retina. Projection systemsalso may be configured to project virtual objects into the physicalenvironment, for example, as a hologram or on a physical surface.

The foregoing is merely illustrative and various modifications can bemade to the described embodiments. The foregoing embodiments may beimplemented individually or in any combination.

What is claimed is:
 1. A head-mounted device, comprising: a head-mountedsupport structure having a rear face and an opposing front face;rear-facing displays that are supported by the head-mounted supportstructure and that are configured to provide images viewable from eyeboxes; a front-facing display on the front face, wherein thefront-facing display has an array of pixels and a display cover layerthat overlaps the array of pixels; an optical component; a shuttersystem between the optical component and an inner surface of the displaycover layer; and an opaque masking layer on the inner surface of thedisplay cover layer in an inactive border area of the front-facingdisplay, wherein the opaque masking layer has an opening aligned withthe optical component, and wherein the shutter system has an actuatorand a movable shutter member that is movable by the actuator between afirst position in which the movable shutter member does not cover theoptical component and a second position in which the movable shuttermember covers the optical component.
 2. The head-mounted device definedin claim 1 wherein the optical component comprises a visible lightcamera.
 3. The head-mounted device defined in claim 1 wherein theoptical component comprises a front-facing camera.
 4. The head-mounteddevice defined in claim 3 wherein the front-facing camera comprises afront-facing infrared camera.
 5. The head-mounted device defined inclaim 1 further comprising magnets configured to hold a removable coverin front of the front-facing display.
 6. The head-mounted device definedin claim 1 wherein the optical component comprises a light-emittingdevice configured to emit light through the display cover layer.
 7. Thehead-mounted device defined in claim 1 wherein the optical componentcomprises a light sensing device and wherein the actuator comprises anelectrically controlled actuator.
 8. The head-mounted device defined inclaim 1 further comprising attachment structures configured to hold aremovable cover over the display cover layer, wherein the removablecover has a transparent portion that overlaps the array of pixels.
 9. Ahead-mounted device, comprising: a head-mounted support structure havingopposing front and rear faces; left and right rear-facing displaysconfigured to display images in eye boxes; a front-facing display on thefront face, wherein the front facing display has a display panelconfigured to display an image and has a display cover layer thatoverlaps the display panel; an optical component that detects light thatpasses through the display cover layer; a movable member in an air gapbetween the display cover layer and the optical component; and anactuator configured to move the movable member between a first positionthat does not overlap the optical component and a second position thatoverlaps the optical component, wherein the movable member comprises anancillary lens that adjusts a lens power for the optical component whenthe movable member is in the second position.
 10. The head mounteddevice defined in claim 9 wherein the movable member comprises anoptical filter that is configured to filter light before the filteredlight reaches the optical component when the movable member is in thesecond position.
 11. The head-mounted device defined in claim 10 whereinthe optical filter comprises a thin-film interference filter.
 12. Thehead-mounted device defined in claim 9 further comprising attachmentstructures configured to hold a removable cover over the front-facingdisplay.
 13. The head-mounted device defined in claim 12 wherein theattachment structures comprise magnets and wherein the removable coverhas an opaque portion that is configured to cover the optical componentwhen the removable cover is over the front-facing display.
 14. Thehead-mounted device defined in claim 9 further comprising a flexibledisplay cover that is configured to be pulled out of an interior regionwithin the head-mounted support structure to cover the front-facingdisplay.
 15. A head-mounted device, comprising: a head-mounted supportstructure having a rear face and an opposing front face; rear-facingdisplays that are supported by the head-mounted support structure andthat are configured to provide images viewable from eye boxes; afront-facing display on the front face, wherein the front-facing displayhas an array of pixels and a display cover layer that overlaps the arrayof pixels; an optical component; a shutter system between the opticalcomponent and an inner surface of the display cover layer; an opaquemasking layer on the display cover layer that does not overlap the arrayof pixels and that has an opening that is aligned with the opticalcomponent; and an optical component support structure that is coupled tothe display cover layer, that is overlapped by the opaque masking layer,and that has an opening that receives the optical component.
 16. Thehead-mounted device defined in claim 15 wherein the optical componentcomprises a front-facing camera.
 17. The head-mounted device defined inclaim 15 wherein the optical component comprises a light-emitting deviceconfigured to emit light through the display cover layer.
 18. Thehead-mounted device defined in claim 15 wherein the optical componentcomprises a light sensing device and wherein the shutter systemcomprises a movable shutter member and an electrically controlledactuator configured to move the movable shutter member.